Electrical can opener



D. E. HILL ELECTRICAL CAN OPENER Filed March 5, 1958 INVENTOR. @aV/ZI Eaf/ //V/ ELECTRICAL CAN OPENER David Earl Hill, Chillicothe, Mo.

Application March 3, 1958, Serial No. 718,638

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-4) This invention relates to power operated devices for opening containers and more particularly, to an electrically powered opener for quickly and efficiently severing the top or lid from the uppermost end of a can of the type used to distribute foods and other similar products.

Various types of electrically operated can openers have been heretofore suggested but these openers have not been entirely satisfactory because of the use of complicated mechanisms which materially increased the overall cost of the assembly, as well as the frequency of breakdown of the openers and furthermore, the prior powered can openers were not constructed so that cans of all sizes could be quickly and efliciently opened by utilization of the machine.

It is therefore the most important object of the present invention to provide a power operated can opener which is constructed so that cans of all heights and diameters may be quickly and easilyv opened with little effort being necessary, and with complete severing of the lid from the can being accomplished without unsevered portions of the lid being left behind theV cutter element of the opener as the can is rotated by the device.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of an opener capable of opening all sizes of cans by virtue of the disposition of the cutter element on structure vertically reciprocable with respect to the can so that the structure may be positioned over a can to be opened regardless of the height thereof. Another equally important object is to provide an opener as described wherein the structure rotatably supporting the cutter element also includes a power driven knurled element adapted to engage the outermost surface of the can in proximal opposed relationship to the cutter element so that the can is rotated to cause the cutter element to sever the top or lid from the same, to the end that cans of substantially any diameter may be quickly and eiciently opened by utilization of the opener.

Also an important aim of the instant invention is the provision of a can opener wherein the structure supporting the cutter element and drive means for rotating the can during opening of the same is reciprocably mounted on an elongated upright standard and includes a lever operated, horizontally rotatable toothed memberk engageable with a rack on the standard to the end that the cutter element may be easily forced through the top of the can by virtue of the mechanical advantage attained through provision of the described lever operated member adapted to operably engage ther teeth of the rack on the standard.

Other important objects of the present invention relate to the provision of a cut-way portion on the toothed member adapted to engage the teeth of the rack on the standard and which may be moved to a position clearing the rack so that the structure supporting the cutter element and the drive burr may be freely reciprocated on the' standard to a desired position by merely moving the cut-away portion of the member into alignment with the rack on the standard; to the provision of a horizontally disposed handle on the outermost end of the lever con"- neoted to the rotatable toothed member on the structure which facilitates swinging of the lever to move the structure downwardly into a position with the cutter element thereof piercing the top of the can 'and with the drive burr engaging the outermost surface of the can; to the provision of a recess in the uppermost end of the standard adapted to receive the handle on the end of the lever when the member is moved to a position with the cut'- away portion thereof clearing the rack on the standard,v whereby the structure supporting the cutter element and drive burr may be releasably maintained in an inoperative position; to the provision of switch means on the handle rotatably mounted on the lever and electrically connectedl to a prime mover operably coupled with the drive burr on the structure so that operation of the drive burr may be selectively controlled; to the provision of flexible conduit means interconnecting the prime mover with the drive burr so that power is transmittedA to the burr irrespective of the relative position of the struc--` ture on the standard and the prime mover; to the provision of stop means associated with the standard for maintaining Kthe can in correct alignment with thecutter element on the structure during reciprocation of the cutter element toward the top of the can; to the provision of a power operated can opener having a minimum 'of movable parts and which ymay be fabricated with a mini mum amount of machining being necessary, that utilizes commercially available parts and whichis substantially trouble-free in operation; and to other lesser important objects and details ofV construction which will become obvious as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of apower oper"- ated can opener constructed in accordance with the pres'- ent invention with certain parts thereof being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction;`

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional view of structure forming a part of thev can opener and taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4; 1

Fig 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of the present can opener having one part thereof broken away to reveal details of the switch forming ai part of the present device and illustrating the inoperative position of the actuating lever and handle;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on the 1in@ 4 4 of Fig. 1 and making vhaving an upright tubular standard 14 secured' to the uppermost face of plate l2 substantially in the center thereof which supports structure broadly enumerated 16 and which is vertically reciprocable with respect to standard ld. Structure 16 is-v provided with a tubular collar 18 telescoped over standard 14 and reciprocable with re'- spect to the latter, an upper, hollow housingV 20? joined to the outermost surface of collar 18 and a hollow chamber 22 positioned beneath housing 20, joinedv to the latter and connected to collar i8. A circular cutting element 21 is rotatably mounted on the lowermost edge of chamber 22 remote from collar 18 and is positioned angularly witlrrrespect. to the longitudinal axis o f standard` 14.

A horizontally disposed flange 24 integral with the side wall 26 of chamber '22 and projecting inwardly therefrom is disposed in vertically spaced relationship to the bottom wall 28 of chamber 22 and serves as means for rotatably mounting an elongated, vertical shaft 30, suitably journalled in bearings 32 located in flange 24 and bottom wall 28 respectively, it being noted that the lowermost end of shaft 30 extends downwardly from wall 28 in parallel relationship to standard 14. A knurled burr 31 is attached to the lowermost end of shaft 30 in proximal opposed relationship to the lowermost part of cutter element 21. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the distance between cutting element 21 and knurled burr 31 is approximately equal to the width of the uppermost edge of a can 33 positioned on the upper face of base plate 12 with cutting element 21 piercing the top 35 of can 33 and burr 31 frictionally engaging the outermost surface of the upper edge of the same. A bevel pinion 34 rigidly secured to the uppermost end of shaft 30 for rotation therewith intermeshes with a somewhat smaller bevel pinion 36 attached to the innermost end of a horizontal shaft 38 journalled within a bearing 40 in side wall 42 of chamber 22. The drive shaft (not shown) of a motor 43 mounted on the upper face of base plate 12 and connected to a suitable source of power is interconnected with shaft 38 by a suitable flexible cable (not shown) housed within exible conduit 45, which is in turn secured to collar 18 by a bracket 47 on the outermost face thereof.

' Housing 20, integral with collar 18, is cylindrical in configuration and rotatably receives an elongated cylindrical member 50 having an outerV diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of housing 20 and coextensive in length therewith. As indicated in Fig. 4, housing 20 and thereby member 50 are positioned in direct alignment with standard 14 in perpendicular relationship to the latter with the ends thereof extending outwardly from standard 14 equal distances.

` Member 50 is provided with a circular, circumferentially extending, cut-away portion 76 equidistant between the ends thereof and having a series of teeth 66 in the outer surface of cut-away portion 76 and extending partially around the circumference thereof adapted to intermesh with a plurality of longitudinally extendingteeth 68 in the outermost surface of standard 14 and which thereby present an elongated, vertical rack broadly designated 70 disposed in opposed alignment with member 50; It is pointed out that cut-away portion 76 in the outermost surface of member 50 is in alignment with rack 70 and that the outer diameter thereof is somewhat less than the distance between the axis of member 50 and the outermost surfaces of teeth 68 so that memper 50 clears rack 70 when cut-away portion 76 of member 50 not having any teeth 66 thereon is moved into direct opposition to teeth 68. As shown in Fig. 4, collar 18 is provided with an inwardly extending key 72 reciprocably disposed in an external key-way 74 in standard 14 which operates to prevent rotation of collar 1S and thereby structure 16 relative to standard 14.

An elongated lever 78 having an integral hub 60 releasably connected to member 50 by a fastener 62 serves as means for rotating member 50 about its longitudinal axis to in turn rotate teeth 66 in cut-away portion 76 relative to standard 14. Hub 60 may be releasably secured to the opposite end of member() if desired by screwing fastener 62 into tapped bore 64. A horizontally disposed tubular handle 80 is rotatably mounted on the outermost end of lever 78 at substantially a right angle to the latter, and switch means broadly designated by the numeral 82 is mounted within the end of handle 80 away from lever 78.

Switch means 82 includes nger button 84 secured to a contact plate 86 biased toward the outermost end of its path 0f travel by a spring 88 surrounding an inner contact pin 90 positioned axially within handle 80 in a manner to be engaged by plate 86 as the latter is reciprocated inwardly by button 84. Lead wires 92 connected 4 with pin 90 and plate 86 are electrically connected to motor 43.

Standard 14 has a recess 94 in the uppermost end thereof adapted to receive handle in a manner as illustrated in Fig. 3 when lever 78 has been moved to a position with cut-away portion 76 clearing the outermost ends of teeth `68 of rack 70. A rectangular stop 96 on base plate 12 in proximity Ito standard 14 is positioned so that when can 33 is moved into engagement with stop 96, the uppermost edge of the can is in alignment with the space between cutter element 21 and burr 31.

In operation, handle St) of opener 10 is normally disposed within recess 94 in the uppermost end of standard 14 to thereby maintain structure 16 at substantially the uppermost end of its path of travel, with cut-away portion 76 of member 50 clearing the outermost ends of the teeth 68 of rack '70 on standard 14. When it is desired to remove the top 35 from a can or container such as 33, the latter is positioned on base plate 12 in an upright position with the lowermost margin thereof disposed against stop 96 and directly beneath cutter element 21 and knurled burr 31. Thereupon, handle 88 is grasped and moved upwardly to a position where the latter clears the uppermost end of standard 14 so that the entire structure 16 may be moved downwardly along standard 14 to a position with cutter element 21 engaging the upper surface of top 35 adjacent the upper marginal edges of can 33. It can be appreciated that because of the cut-'away portion 76 provided in member 50, collar 18 is freely reciprocable on standard 14 and thus, structure 16 can be quickly moved downwardly on standard 14 until cutting element 21 engages top 35 of can 33.

As soon as cutting element 21 engages top 35, handle 80 is pushed downwardly to swing lever 48 about the axis of member 50 to thereby rotate member 50 and bring teeth 66 into engagement with certain of the teeth 68 of rack 70. It can be appreciated that the exact teeth 68 of rack 70 which teeth 66 of member 50 engage will be dependent upon the height of can 3-3. Continued downward movement of handle 8i) and lever 78 with teeth 66 and 68 in interengagement causes structure 16 to be forced downwardly with respect to standard 14, and cutting element 21 pierces top 35 while knurled burr 31 moves into frictional engagement with the outermost, upper peripheral edge of can 33.

A person opening can 33 may then push button 82 to move plate 86 into engagement with the outermost end of contact pin and thereby complete the circuit to motor 43 and operate the drive shaft thereof. Rotation of the flexible cable within conduit 45 causes burr 31 to be rotated by virtue of the operable interconnection of pinions 34 and 36. Since burr 31 frictionally engages the uppermost marginal edge of can 33, rotation of the same causes can 33 to be rotated and effects severance of top 35 from the same as cutting element 211 is moved around the periphery of top 35. The knurled surface of burr 31 prevents relative rotation of can 33 and burr 31 and assures quick, eicient separation of top 35 from the uppermost edge of container 33.

After top 35 has been completely severed from can 33, structure 16 is moved upwardly with respect to can 33 and standard 14 by pushing upwardly on handle 80 to swing lever 78 about the axis of hub 66 and causing teeth 66 to walk upwardly in the teeth 68 of rack 70 on standard 14 until cut-away portion 76 of member 50 not having any teeth 66 thereon moves into proximal relationship to the outermost ends of teeth 68. When cut-away portion 76 clears teeth 68 of rack 70, the entire structure 16 may be moved upwardly relative to standard 14 until handle 80 may be placed within recess 94 of standard 14. Opener 10 is then in an inoperable position and is in condition for removal of the top from another ca n such as 33. I It can now be appreciated that opener 10 is adapted for opening metal cans of substantially any diameter or height in an eicient manner and with very little actual labor being necessary. The construction of structure 16 permits the cutting element 21 to be pierced into top 35 of can 33 with a minimum of elort because of the mechanical advantage derived through utilization of toothed member Si) operably coupled with lever 78 having an actuating handle on the outermost end thereof. Furthermore, trouble-free operation of opener is assured because of the manner in which knurled burr 31 rrnly engages the outermost surface of the upper peripheral edge of can 3-3 and positively rotates such container during the time that switch 82 is closed. The provision of cut-away portion '76 on member 50 permits the adjustment of structure to any desired height in a minimum of time and thus, top 35 may be removed from can 33 quickly and without wasted motion. The parts from winch opener 10 is constructed are relatively inexpensive and the entire assembly may be fabricated in a relatively short period of time and distributed at a low unit cost. Relatively few moving parts prevents opener 18 from breaking down under constant use and assures a long life of the unit.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A power operated can opener comprising a base for supporting a can to be opened; a standard mounted on said base in an upright position; a collar slidably mounted on said standard; structure secured to said collar for movement therewith; a cutter element rotatably mounted on said structure in a position to sever the lid of the can as the collar and thereby said structure are shifted downwardly along said standard; a power driven rim engaging feed wheel rotatably mounted on said structure adjacent said cutter element and adapted to cooperate therewith by rotating the can as the cutter element severs the lid, said standard being provided with vertically spaced teeth in the surface thereof proximal to said structure and thereby presenting a rack, and said structure having a tubular housing above said cutter element presenting a horizontally disposed bore; a cylindrical member rotatably posi- 6 t tioned in said bore and provided with teeth in a rst part of the, circumferentially extending surface thereof and engageable with the teeth of said rack on the standard, the remaining circumferential part of said surface of the member clearing the teeth of said rack; an elongated lever secured to one extremity of the member and extending outwardly therefrom in perpendicular relationship to the axis of said member; a handle mounted on the outer end of said lever in-parallel relationship to said lever; a motor mounted on said base and operably coupled with said rim engaging Wheel for rotating the latter; and electric switch means on the outer free end of the handle and operably connected to said motor for permitting selective control of operation of the motor whereby when the member is rotated to a position with said remaining part of the circumferential surface of the member clearing said rack the collar and thereby said structure may be moved downwardly until the cutter element engages the lid of a can to be opened, the member may then be rotated, upon swinging movement of the handle and lever downwardly, until the teeth of said rst part of the mem- 'ber engage the teeth of the rack whereupon continued swinging movement of the handle and lever downwardly permits the cutter element to be forced through the lid and then the latter severed around the periphery thereof as the switch is closed to actuate said motor to thereby elfe-ct rotation of said Wheel and cause the lid of the can to be fed against said cutter element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,845,213 Ames Feb. 16, 1932 2,011,170 Ames Aug. 13,1935 2,518,190 Scieri Aug. 8, 1950 2,523,810 Brown Sept. 26, 1950 2,547,258 Craig Apr. 3, 1951 2,579,189 Jenson Dec. 18, 1951 2,583,034 Wibling Ian. 22, 1952 2,673,058 Tyler Mar. 23, 1954 2,677,175 Wild May 4, 1954 

